Compact epicyclical drive

Abstract

An epicyclical drive having a generally flat, disk shaped flywheel, a flywheel to pinion carrier in the form of an inner hub of the flywheel, and a flywheel support bearing and structure incorporated into the flywheel itself, all of which are concentric about a rotational axis of the flywheel so as to be axially compact, and so as to be particularly well adapted for being located beneath, or incorporated into, the floor of a grain header of an agricultural harvesting machine, for reciprocatingly driving knife knives of a sickle thereof. In particular, the flywheel support bearing is located in an annular space between the inner hub and an outer flange which is rotated by a belt or other drive for rotating the flywheel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This invention relates generally to an epicyclical drive, and more particularly, to an epicyclical drive having a flywheel, flywheel to pinion carrier, and flywheel support bearing and structure, which are concentric about a rotational axis of the flywheel and which are axially compact, so as to be particularly well adapted for being located beneath, or incorporated into, the floor of a grain header of an agricultural harvesting machine, for reciprocatingly driving a sickle thereof.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Epicyclic drives are noted for their utility for converting rotary motion to reciprocating linear motion, in a variety of applications. For example, epicyclical drives are used for driving reciprocating sickles. Sickles are commonly used on agricultural harvesting machines, including on the headers of combines and windrowers. Such sickles typically include cutter bars supporting a row of knives, have been used to cut plants, including, but not limited to, hay, gras...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the compact drive mechanism is adapted to be located beneath, or incorporated into, a floor or pan of a header at a location spaced from the sides or ends of the header, such that cut crops or other plant material can flow over and around the drive mechanism and not be obstructed thereby. The drive mechanism of the invention is preferably configured for driving two knife assemblies of a sickle disposed in end to end relation, reciprocatingly in opposite directions, such that forces generated by the moving masses of the drive mechanism and the two knife assemblies, including forces resulting from moments, are at least substantially completely contained within the structure of the drive mechanism, and therefore are not directed to structure of the header. As a result, large, heavy drive units and support structure adequate for withstanding vibrations and high back and forth forces, are eliminated from the sides or ends of the header, as is timing apparatus for connecting the drives, and the crop dividers on the sides can be narrower.

[0011]Preferably, the two epicyclic drives are mounted in side by side relation, and are connected in reciprocatingly driving relation to two knife assemblies, respectively, preferably supported in end to end relation adjacent to the front edge portion of the floor or pan of a header, for simultaneously moving the knife assemblies reciprocatingly in opposite sideward directions. This is preferably achieved by timing the pinions of the drives in offset relation about the central rotational axes of the drives, such that radial forces generated by imbalances of the respective eccentric elements are also at least substantially cancelled, resulting in the net overall forces and vibrations emanating from the two drives and knife assemblies being greatly reduced or even substantially eliminated.

[0012]According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the drive mechanism is configured such that the two epicyclic drives are jointly driven by a common drive, preferably in timed relation one to the other using a timing belt drive, chain drive and / or gear drive, which partially encircle outer flanges of the flywheels, to facilitate the axial compactness of the drives. The common drive can be a motor, such as a fluid or electric motor, a PTO shaft, or the like.

Problems solved by technology

Disadvantages of the side location include that the header must include significant frame structure for supporting the drive and to withstand forces and vibrations generated thereby.

The end structure or crop divider at the end of the header must also be relatively wide, to accommodate the drive and to direct adjacent standing crops therepast, and increasing the possibility of accidentally pushing down adjacent standing crops.

This typically involves relatively long mechanical drive lines connecting the two drives together, which is disadvantageous as it adds weight, cost and complexity.

These high forces can have at least two negative effects, vibration at the drive system that may be transmitted to other components of the machine, and fatigue failure of the structural components themselves.

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